Thousands of Watsonville and Pajaro residents received reverse 911 calls Thursday about the Pajaro River rising.
Overnight rain showers in Morgan Hill and San Benito County caused creeks and rivers feeding into the Pajaro River to surge. On Thursday at 1 p.m., the Pajaro River was 28.5 feet high. It dropped to 25 feet by 5 p.m.
The Pajaro River floods at 32 feet, and it has not risen this high since the floods of 1998.
The Office of Emergency Services issued a Flood Warning for the community of Pajaro that will be in effect from noon Thursday until 8 a.m. Friday.
Although this week's series of rainstorms over over, the Pajaro River continues to rise.
"Water levels in the lower Pajaro River continue to rise in response to pulses of runoff from upstream in both the Llagas Creek and San Benito River basins. Should levees become compromised, the town of Pajaro could be flooded," OES officials said.
The OES urged residents to take precautions to protect their lives and property.
The City of Watsonville wrote on Facebook: "ALERT: The Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services has issued an alert, that due to high water levels on the Pajaro River, they are carefully monitoring the river for possible flooding. At this time, no evacuations are ordered. However, you and your family should be prepared for possible notification should evacuations become necessary. There has been unexpected rain in the Morgan Hill area which is raising our river levels. City staff is prepared and standing by."
The Pajaro River winds through Watsonville and Pajaro before it reaches the ocean at Zmudowski State Beach.
VIDEO: Pajaro River levee leaks
On Wednesday, while the Pajaro River was 26 feet, Granite Rock crews hauled 16,000 tons of rocks to plug small leaks along the levee. The leaks are also known as boils.
"The boils are (an) indication that water is getting through the levee somehow, and that could be for number of reasons," Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said.
"What you want to do is keep the little holes from becoming big holes because big holes are a big problem when you have a levee," Hoppin said.
Monterey County and Santa Cruz County activated their emergency operations centers because the river snakes between both counties. County officials said they don't want residents to panic, but they do want people to be prepared.
Robert Rodriguez Jr. received the flood warning alert on his cellphone Thursday.
"Just got to make sure you have water and other necessities. It's up to Mother Nature," Rodriguez said.
MORE: Hollister neighborhood turns into water world

WATSONVILLE, Calif. —

Thousands of Watsonville and Pajaro residents received reverse 911 calls Thursday about the Pajaro River rising.

Overnight rain showers in Morgan Hill and San Benito County caused creeks and rivers feeding into the Pajaro River to surge. On Thursday at 1 p.m., the Pajaro River was 28.5 feet high. It dropped to 25 feet by 5 p.m.

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The Pajaro River floods at 32 feet, and it has not risen this high since the floods of 1998.

The Office of Emergency Services issued a Flood Warning for the community of Pajaro that will be in effect from noon Thursday until 8 a.m. Friday.

Although this week's series of rainstorms over over, the Pajaro River continues to rise.

"Water levels in the lower Pajaro River continue to rise in response to pulses of runoff from upstream in both the Llagas Creek and San Benito River basins. Should levees become compromised, the town of Pajaro could be flooded," OES officials said.

NWS

Flood Warning

The OES urged residents to take precautions to protect their lives and property.

The City of Watsonville wrote on Facebook: "ALERT: The Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services has issued an alert, that due to high water levels on the Pajaro River, they are carefully monitoring the river for possible flooding. At this time, no evacuations are ordered. However, you and your family should be prepared for possible notification should evacuations become necessary. There has been unexpected rain in the Morgan Hill area which is raising our river levels. City staff is prepared and standing by."

The Pajaro River winds through Watsonville and Pajaro before it reaches the ocean at Zmudowski State Beach.

On Wednesday, while the Pajaro River was 26 feet, Granite Rock crews hauled 16,000 tons of rocks to plug small leaks along the levee. The leaks are also known as boils.

"The boils are (an) indication that water is getting through the levee somehow, and that could be for number of reasons," Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said.

"What you want to do is keep the little holes from becoming big holes because big holes are a big problem when you have a levee," Hoppin said.

NOAA

Pajaro River forecast

Monterey County and Santa Cruz County activated their emergency operations centers because the river snakes between both counties. County officials said they don't want residents to panic, but they do want people to be prepared.

Robert Rodriguez Jr. received the flood warning alert on his cellphone Thursday.

KSBW / Amy Larson

Pajaro River flows under Highway 1 in Watsonville

"Just got to make sure you have water and other necessities. It's up to Mother Nature," Rodriguez said.